A dramatic twist in the 2025 Formula 1 title race has left Max Verstappen and Red Bull in a precarious position. With the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the four-time world champion finds himself trailing McLaren's Lando Norris, who needs just a podium finish to secure his maiden title.
Verstappen, who has dominated the sport with Red Bull in recent years, admits that his car lacks the pace to challenge McLaren. He finished second to Norris in both practice sessions on Friday at the Yas Marina Circuit, with a gap of +0.008s in FP1 and +0.363s in FP2.
"I was happy with the car, but we need to be faster," Verstappen said. "We're not quick enough, but we've been in a decent window around here."
The Dutchman added that there's a constant battle with the car's performance, and both single-lap and long-run pace need improvement. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, also struggled, finishing 11th in FP2 after skipping FP1.
Red Bull's motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, agrees with Verstappen's assessment. He believes that neither the long-run pace nor the one-lap speed is satisfactory, and the team is losing time in sector three.
"The car understeers, which Max doesn't like," Marko explained. "On the long run, we were stronger in the first practice, but we're clearly behind Lando now."
Marko acknowledges that Verstappen is ahead of Piastri, but it doesn't significantly improve his title chances with Norris leading the way. The reigning champion needs a miracle, as Marko isn't confident that Mercedes or Ferrari can beat Norris, given their performance in Friday's practice sessions.
"We can't rely on mistakes three times," Marko said, referring to the need for Norris to make errors.
Verstappen's hopes rest on a strategic or operational failure from Norris' side, but the odds are stacked against him. McLaren's recent mistakes, including a pit stop blunder in Qatar, have helped Verstappen close the gap, but it may not be enough.
Red Bull's upgrades at Monza for round 16 and Verstappen's five wins in the last eight grands prix have kept their title hopes alive, but the team faces an uphill battle.
"We've made an excellent comeback," Marko said. "Our working window has expanded, and Max has been able to strike at the right moments. But with two McLarens at the front, it's a tough chase."
The entire Red Bull team has been motivated by the pursuit, and Marko believes it has been an unexpected turn of events for the Formula 1 world.
As the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix unfolds, will Verstappen and Red Bull pull off an incredible comeback, or will Norris secure his first championship title? The fate of the 2025 Formula 1 season hangs in the balance.
